The Darlington Chapter of The Cum Laude Society inducted 21 seniors during an installation ceremony Wednesday, Jan. 12 in Morris Chapel.
“Membership in The Cum Laude Society is the highest academic honor Darlington can bestow upon a group of students,” said Associate Headmaster Sam Moss (’63), Chapter president, in his opening remarks.
To be eligible for consideration, students must have an A (93) average for all four years, have taken at least eight Honors or AP courses over four years, have earned a very high class rank and “have demonstrated good character, honor and integrity in all aspects of their school life.” Membership is limited to a maximum of 20 percent of each senior class.
Inductees included Edward Hood Bonnyman of Rome, Ga.; Payton McCurry Bradford of Rome, Ga.; Kristi Kathleen Buice of Rome, Ga.; Paul Brandon Carroll of Rome, Ga.; Rujira Chaysiri of Thailand; Brian Christopher Eberhard of Cartersville, Ga.; Anastasia Elaine Glass of Rome, Ga.; Leslie Alexis Goldberg of Rome, Ga.; Vernon Davis Grizzard III of Rome, Ga.; Virginia Allison Harbin of Rome, Ga.; Dong-Wook (Dennis) Kim of Birmingham, Ala.; Kimberly Mee-Ok King of Rome, Ga.; Judith Kristin Kountz of Rome, Ga.; Barton Davis Lowrey of Rome, Ga.; Yuan-Lung Luo of Taiwan; James Patrick McShane of Rome, Ga.; Clarissa Denise Rebman of Lindale, Ga.; William Robert Richardson of Rome, Ga.; Kirk Andrew Riedling of Rome, Ga.; Jessica Barry Sloan of Cedartown, Ga.; and Michael Robert Stankiewicz of Rome, Ga.
“This society is a fellowship of scholars whose purpose is to recognize excellence in academic work,” said Moss. “As these students pursue their educations, it is our hope that they will accept the honor of membership in this society as a responsibility to make some contribution to man’s ongoing search for greater understanding of himself and of society.”
Inductees were presented with pins and certificates of membership. Also during the ceremony, returning Chapter member Alex Ezell (’94), Upper School English teacher, and faculty transfer member Dr. James Hendrix, interim president, were recognized.
“Even though he will only be with us for this school year, we want to welcome Dr. Hendrix as a transfer member and induct him into membership in the Darlington Chapter as a very small and certainly inadequate token of our appreciation for his leadership and many good services to Darlington,” said Moss.
